Sunday, June 27, 2010

Nakayama Festa powered home to win the Takarazuka Kinen on Sunday. The 4-year-old colt won the grade one event by a half length from favorite Buena Vista. Third was, another half length behind, Earnestly with Dream Journey fourth and Never Bouchon fifth in the reduced filed of 17.

In the last 100 meters from home, Nakayama Festa overtook Buena Vista and Earnestly on his way to the winning post. Yoshitomi Shibata was aboard the winner, clocking 2 minutes 13 seconds for the 2,200-meter distance on Hanshin Racecourse.

Nakayama Festa, a son of Stay Gold and the Tight Spot mare Dear Wink, has now won 5 of his 10 races for owner S.Izumi and trainer Y.Ninomiya. A 135+ million jp yen of the Takarazuka first prize brought his career earnings to 293+ million jp yen. Arai Bokujo was the breeder of the bay colt.

Sunday, June 06, 2010

Showa Modern extended his winning streak to three when he took the grade one Yasuda Kinen on Sunday. The 6-year-old horse won it under the hands of Hiroki Goto in 1 minute 31.70 seconds by a 1/2-length from Super Hornet. Another head behind, Smile Jack was third with Triumph March fourth and Sight Winner(NZ) fifth.

Showa Modern had struggled a bit on the grade level, but he turned over a new leaf this season with victory in the grade three Lord Derby Trophy in early April and victory in the grade one Yasuda Kinen. What a great success in a short period!

Showa Modern, by the 1999 Yasuda Kinen winner Air Jihad out of Yume Shibai, by Toni Bin, has now won nine of his 39 races with more than 348 milion jp yen in career earnings.

Friday, June 04, 2010

Reach the Crown, runner-up in the 2009 Japanese Derby, looks like a very good miler after switching to mile campaign this season. He proved that on his last outing in the Milers Cup and could have a good chance to win his first grade one race.

The main opponent to Reach the Crown could be Triumph March, who finished a neck behind Reach the Crown in the Milers Cup. The three Hong Kong entries may be dangerous.

The post time for the 2010 Yasuda Kinen will be at 3:40 p.m. JST on Sunday, June 6.

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

A total of 25 horses remain in the final nomination stage of the 2010 Yasuda Kinen which is to be run on Sunday, June 6 at Tokyo Racecourse over 1,600 meters on grass.The nominations include three Hong Kong-trained horses, Beauty Flash(NZ), Fellowship(NZ) and Sight Winner(NZ).The Hong Kong horses, Fairy King Prawn and Bulish Luck, have won the race since the door was opened to foreigners in 1993.The three invaders have ranked higher than the local nominations in the recent rating.